He thought back over the fight.
The fight had been as rigid as an AI playing a game. Every step followed a program, with no surprises, no improvisation, none of those flashes of inspiration on the brink of death.
"Real combat... isn't an exam."
Uchiha Makoto had already had a Genius tag. Now he had gained a Fighting Above One's Rank tag, too!
Although neither his chakra nor the power of his various ninjutsu had increased, Makoto felt he could take on several of his former selves.
Uchiha Makoto smiled.
"I get it." He stood and rolled his wrists. "I think I'm starting to understand something!"
The moment he finished speaking!
The sound of bodies cutting through the air erupted deep in the woods!
More than a dozen figures rushed out from every direction. Together with the ninja who could still move, they instantly surrounded the two of them.
These ninja weren't dressed as "villagers" this time.
They wore proper Root uniforms.
Black clothes, masks, and killing intent so dense it felt like blades.
The masked man leading them had an even more powerful presence than the village chief.
"Uchiha Makoto." The voice beneath the mask was utterly cold. "Lord Danzo requests your presence."
"Requests?" Uchiha Makoto laughed. "This doesn't exactly look like an invitation to dinner."
"Enough talk," another Root ninja said. "Attack!"
No warning. No wasted words.
True killers never rambled.
The Yamanaka ninja formed hand seals. "Mind Body Switch Technique!"
A mental assault shot straight toward Uchiha Makoto's brain.
A dense black swarm of insects flew from the Aburame ninja's sleeves. "Insect Sphere!"
The insects buzzed as they descended like a dark cloud.
The two leading ninja were actually members of the Yamanaka Clan and the Aburame Clan.
At the same time, the other dozen or so